textile-fiber-database

Properties, care rules, and labelling names for 50+ textile fibers.

A structured, machine-readable dataset of textile fiber properties, care instructions, sustainability data, and regulatory labelling names. Designed for fashion tech developers, PLM systems, sustainability tools, and brands that need reliable fiber data for product development and compliance.

What's included

• 38 fiber definitions with physical properties, care rules, sustainability data, and labelling names
• 16 common blend combinations with resulting properties and care notes
• 30 FTC/EU fiber name mappings covering US vs EU labelling discrepancies
• Property ratings on a 1-5 scale across 12 dimensions (breathability, durability, pilling, etc.)
• Sustainability profiles including biodegradability, water intensity, and available certifications

Fiber comparison

Top 10 fibers by global production share:

| Fiber | Breathe | Durable | Pill | Wrinkle-R | Soft | Care | |-------|:-------:|:-------:|:----:|:---------:|:----:|------| | Polyester | 2 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 40C, no bleach, tumble dry low | | Cotton | 5 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 60C, bleachable, iron high | | Viscose | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 30C, dry clean recommended | | Nylon 6 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 40C, tumble dry low | | Acrylic | 2 | 3 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 40C, tumble dry low, iron low | | Polyester (rPET) | 2 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 40C, same as virgin polyester | | Elastane | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 40C, no heat, no chlorine | | Wool (Merino) | 4 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 30C, dry flat, dry clean | | Modal | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 40C, machine washable | | Lyocell | 5 | 4 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 40C, machine washable |

Quick start

npm install @kobolabs/textile-fiber-database

const fibers = require('@kobolabs/textile-fiber-database');

// Find a specific fiber
const cotton = fibers.find(f => f.id === 'cotton');
console.log(cotton.properties.breathability); // 5
console.log(cotton.care.maxWashTemp);         // 60

// Get all sustainable fibers
const sustainable = fibers.filter(f => f.sustainability.biodegradable);
console.log(`${sustainable.length} biodegradable fibers`);

// Find fibers suitable for activewear
const activewear = fibers.filter(f =>
  f.typicalApplications.includes('activewear')
);

Load blends

const blends = require('@kobolabs/textile-fiber-database/data/blends.json');

const cottonElastane = blends.find(b => b.id === 'cotton-elastane-95-5');
console.log(cottonElastane.care.maxWashTemp); // 40
console.log(cottonElastane.commonUse);        // ["stretch denim", "fitted t-shirts", ...]

Check labelling names

const names = require('@kobolabs/textile-fiber-database/data/ftc-fiber-names.json');

// What does the US call "Viscose"?
const viscose = names.fibers.find(f => f.euName.includes('Viscose'));
console.log(viscose.ftcName); // "Rayon"

Properties rating scale

All properties are rated 1-5:

| Rating | Meaning | Example | |:------:|---------|---------| | 1 | Very low / poor | Cotton wrinkle resistance (1) | | 2 | Low | Polyester breathability (2) | | 3 | Moderate | Linen softness (3) | | 4 | High / good | Wool heat retention (5) | | 5 | Very high / excellent | Lyocell breathability (5) |

Property definitions

| Property | What it measures | |----------|-----------------| | breathability | Air permeability and ventilation | | moistureWicking | Ability to transport moisture away from the body | | durability | Resistance to wear, tear, and abrasion | | pilling | Tendency to form surface pills (5 = high pilling) | | shrinkage | Tendency to shrink when washed (5 = high shrinkage) | | wrinkleResistance | Ability to resist and recover from creasing | | drape | How the fabric falls and flows | | softness | Hand feel and tactile comfort | | heatRetention | Insulation and warmth | | dyeability | Ability to absorb and retain dyes | | uvProtection | Resistance to ultraviolet radiation | | staticResistance | Resistance to static electricity build-up |

Note: pilling and shrinkage are rated where 5 = high tendency (undesirable). All other properties are rated where 5 = desirable.

Fiber categories

| Category | Count | Examples | |----------|:-----:|---------| | Natural - Plant | 7 | Cotton, linen, hemp, jute, ramie | | Natural - Animal | 8 | Wool, cashmere, silk, mohair, alpaca | | Regenerated Cellulosic | 8 | Viscose, modal, lyocell, cupro, acetate | | Synthetic | 7 | Polyester, nylon, acrylic, elastane | | Performance/Technical | 5 | Gore-Tex, Cordura, Kevlar, Nomex, carbon fiber | | Emerging/Sustainable | 6 | Pinatex, Mylo, Econyl, rPET, SeaCell, Orange Fiber |

Blend behaviour

When fibers are blended, the resulting properties are not a simple average. The blend analyzer in examples/blend-analyzer.js uses weighted averages as a baseline, but real-world blends have important nuances:

• Elastane at 5% dramatically changes stretch and recovery but barely affects breathability or softness
• Care instructions follow the most restrictive fiber -- a 95% cotton / 5% elastane blend cannot be washed at 60C because elastane degrades above 40C
• Nylon in wool blends (20-25%) dramatically improves durability in high-wear areas without noticeably changing the wool character
• Polyester in cotton blends (35%) reduces shrinkage and wrinkles while lowering breathability

Common blends included

| Blend | Composition | Primary Use | |-------|-------------|-------------| | Cotton/Polyester | 65/35 | Workwear, school uniforms | | Cotton/Elastane | 95/5 | Stretch denim, fitted tees | | Polyester/Elastane | 92/8 | Activewear, leggings | | Cotton/Modal | 50/50 | Loungewear, underwear | | Wool/Nylon | 80/20 | Socks, suiting | | Silk/Cashmere | 70/30 | Luxury scarves | | Nylon/Elastane | 80/20 | Swimwear | | Merino/Nylon | 75/25 | Performance socks | | Lyocell/Cotton | 60/40 | Sustainable denim | | rPET/Cotton | 60/40 | Corporate wear |

See data/blends.json for the full set of 16 blend definitions.

US vs EU naming differences

The most common source of labelling errors in international fashion is fiber naming discrepancies between the US (FTC) and EU regulations.

| US (FTC) | EU (Regulation 1007/2011) | Notes | |----------|---------------------------|-------| | Rayon | Viscose | US uses "Rayon" as umbrella term for all regenerated cellulose | | Spandex | Elastane | Same fiber, different generic names. Brand: Lycra | | Nylon | Polyamide | US uses "Nylon", EU uses "Polyamide" | | Olefin | Polypropylene / Polyethylene | EU specifies the exact polymer type | | Cuprammonium Rayon | Cupro | EU has a separate designation; US classifies under Rayon | | Rubber | Elastodiene | Natural or synthetic rubber fibers | | Azlon | Protein | Regenerated protein fibers (soy, milk, etc.) | | Bamboo | Bamboo | FTC requires chemically processed bamboo to be labelled "Rayon (made from bamboo)" |

See data/ftc-fiber-names.json for the full set of 30 fiber name mappings.

Sustainability

Each fiber includes sustainability data covering biodegradability, renewable sourcing, water and carbon intensity, recyclability, and available certifications.

Key certifications

| Certification | Scope | Applies to | |---------------|-------|------------| | GOTS | Organic textile processing | Cotton, wool, silk, hemp, linen | | GRS | Recycled content verification | rPET, Econyl, any recycled fiber | | OEKO-TEX | Chemical safety testing | All fibers | | bluesign | Chemical and resource management | Synthetics, performance fabrics | | FSC/PEFC | Forest management (wood pulp) | Viscose, modal, lyocell | | RWS | Responsible wool | Wool | | BCI | Better cotton farming | Cotton |

Example script

Analyse any fiber composition:

node examples/blend-analyzer.js "60% Cotton, 35% Polyester, 5% Elastane"
node examples/blend-analyzer.js "100% Silk"
node examples/blend-analyzer.js "80% Wool, 20% Nylon"
node examples/blend-analyzer.js "95% Modal, 5% Elastane"

The script parses the composition, looks up each fiber, calculates weighted blended properties, and outputs care recommendations based on the most delicate fiber in the blend.

Data format

fibers.json

{
  "id": "cotton",
  "name": "Cotton",
  "category": "natural-plant",
  "subcategory": "cellulosic",
  "ftcName": "Cotton",
  "euName": "Cotton",
  "description": "Natural cellulosic fiber from the cotton plant...",
  "properties": {
    "breathability": 5,
    "moistureWicking": 3,
    "durability": 4,
    ...
  },
  "care": {
    "maxWashTemp": 60,
    "bleachable": true,
    "tumbleDry": true,
    "ironTemp": "high",
    "dryCleaning": true,
    "specialNotes": "Prone to shrinkage on first wash..."
  },
  "sustainability": {
    "biodegradable": true,
    "renewableSource": true,
    "waterIntensity": "high",
    "carbonFootprint": "medium",
    "recyclable": true,
    "certifications": ["GOTS", "BCI", "Fairtrade Cotton", "OEKO-TEX"]
  },
  "commonBlends": ["polyester", "elastane", "modal", "linen"],
  "typicalApplications": ["t-shirts", "denim", "underwear", ...],
  "priceTier": "low-medium",
  "globalProductionShare": "24%"
}

blends.json

{
  "id": "cotton-elastane-95-5",
  "name": "Cotton/Elastane",
  "composition": "95% Cotton, 5% Elastane",
  "commonUse": ["stretch denim", "fitted t-shirts", ...],
  "resultingProperties": {
    "breathability": 4,
    "stretch": 4,
    "recovery": 4,
    "shrinkage": 3,
    "wrinkleResistance": 2
  },
  "care": {
    "maxWashTemp": 40,
    "notes": "Wash at lower temp than pure cotton to protect elastane..."
  }
}

Sources

Fiber properties and care data in this dataset are compiled from industry-standard references and manufacturer specifications:

• ASTM D123 -- Standard Terminology Relating to Textiles
• ISO 2076 -- Textiles -- Man-made fibres -- Generic names
• FTC Textile Fiber Products Identification Act (15 USC 70)
• EU Textile Regulation 1007/2011
• Textile Exchange -- Preferred Fiber & Materials Market Report
• Individual fiber manufacturer technical data sheets
• Sustainability certifications body documentation (GOTS, GRS, OEKO-TEX, etc.)

Property ratings are based on general fiber characteristics and may vary depending on yarn construction, weave/knit structure, and finishing treatments. They are intended as a comparative baseline, not absolute performance specifications.

Contributing

See CONTRIBUTING.md for guidelines on submitting corrections, adding new fibers, or expanding sustainability data.

License

MIT

Built by the team at Kobo -- modern PLM for fashion brands.